Consortium profile: the methylation, imaging and NeuroDevelopment (MIND) consortium

Isabel K. Schuurmans; Rosa H. Mulder; Vilte Baltramonaityte; Alexandra  Lahtinen; Fan Qiuyu; Leonardo  Rothmann; Marlene Staginnus; Jetro J. Tuulari; S. Alexandra Burt; Claudia  Buss; Jeffrey M Craig; Kirsten A Donald; Johan G Eriksson; Janine F Felix; Tom P. Freeman; Rodrigo  Grassi-Oliveira; Anke Huels; Luke W.  Hyde; Scott A.  jones; Hasse  Karlsson; Linnea  Karlsson; Nastassja Koen; William Lawn; Colter Mitchell; Christopher S.  Monk; Michael A.  Mooney; Ryan L Muetzel; Joel T.  Nigg; Síntia  Iole Nogueira Belangero; Daniel A Notterman; Yi Ying  Ong; Tom O'Connor; Kieran J.  O’Donnell; Pedro Mario  Pan; Tiina Paunio; Peter  Ryabinin; Richard  Saffery; Giovanni A.  Salum; Marc Seal; Tim J. Silk; Dan J Stein; Ai Peng  Tan; Dennis Wang; Heather J. Zar; Esther Walton; Charlotte A.M. Cecil

doi:10.1038/s41380-025-03203-w

Consortium profile: the methylation, imaging and NeuroDevelopment (MIND) consortium

Isabel K. Schuurmans, Rosa H. Mulder, Vilte Baltramonaityte, Alexandra Lahtinen, Fan Qiuyu, Leonardo Rothmann, Marlene Staginnus, Jetro J. Tuulari, S. Alexandra Burt, Claudia Buss, Jeffrey M Craig, Kirsten A Donald, Johan G Eriksson, Janine F Felix, Tom P. Freeman, Rodrigo Grassi-Oliveira, Anke Huels, Luke W. Hyde, Scott A. jones, Hasse KarlssonLinnea Karlsson, Nastassja Koen, William Lawn, Colter Mitchell, Christopher S. Monk, Michael A. Mooney, Ryan L Muetzel, Joel T. Nigg, Síntia Iole Nogueira Belangero, Daniel A Notterman, Yi Ying Ong, Tom O'Connor, Kieran J. O’Donnell, Pedro Mario Pan, Tiina Paunio, Peter Ryabinin, Richard Saffery, Giovanni A. Salum, Marc Seal, Tim J. Silk, Dan J Stein, Ai Peng Tan, Dennis Wang, Heather J. Zar, Esther Walton, Charlotte A.M. Cecil

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

1 Citation (SciVal)

Abstract

Epigenetic processes, such as DNA methylation, show potential as biological markers and mechanisms underlying gene-environment interplay in the prediction of mental health and other brain-based phenotypes. However, little is known about how peripheral epigenetic patterns relate to individual differences in the brain itself. An increasingly popular approach to address this is by combining epigenetic and neuroimaging data; yet, research in this area is almost entirely comprised of cross-sectional studies in adults. To bridge this gap, we established the Methylation, Imaging and NeuroDevelopment (MIND) Consortium, which aims to bring a developmental focus to the emerging field of Neuroimaging Epigenetics by (i) promoting collaborative, adequately powered developmental research via multi-cohort analyses; (ii) increasing scientific rigor through the establishment of shared pipelines and open science practices; and (iii) advancing our understanding of DNA methylation-brain dynamics at different developmental periods (from birth to emerging adulthood), by leveraging data from prospective, longitudinal pediatric studies. MIND currently integrates 16 cohorts worldwide, comprising (repeated) measures of DNA methylation in peripheral tissues (blood, buccal cells, and saliva) and neuroimaging by magnetic resonance imaging across up to five time points over a period of up to 21 years (Npooled DNAm = 12,877; Npooled neuroimaging = 10,899; Npooled combined = 6074). By triangulating associations across multiple developmental time points and study types, we hope to generate new insights into the dynamic relationships between peripheral DNA methylation and the brain, and how these ultimately relate to neurodevelopmental and psychiatric phenotypes.

Original language	English
Journal	Molecular Psychiatry
Early online date	6 Sept 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-025-03203-w
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 6 Sept 2025

Acknowledgements

We are extremely grateful to all the families who took part in this study, the midwives for their help in recruiting them, and the whole ALSPAC team, which includes interviewers, computer and laboratory technicians, clerical workers, research scientists, volunteers, managers, receptionists and nurses. The UK Medical Research Council and Wellcome (Grant ref: 217065/Z/19/Z) and the University of Bristol provide core support for ALSPAC. GWAS data was generated by Sample Logistics and Genotyping Facilities at Wellcome Sanger Institute and LabCorp (Laboratory Corporation of America) using support from 23andMe. This publication is the work of the authors and they will serve as guarantors for the contents of this paper. A comprehensive list of grants funding is available on the ALSPAC website ( http://www.bristol.ac.uk/alspac/external/documents/grant-acknowledgements.pdf ). The Brazilian High-Risk Cohort – Happy Mums is supported by the National Institute of Developmental Psychiatry for Children and Adolescents, a science and technology institute funded by the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq; National Council for Scientific and Technological Development; grant number 573974/2008‐0), Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP; Research Support Foundation of the State of São Paulo; grant number 2008/57896‐8), and Horizon – Health, through the project Understanding, predicting, and treating depression in pregnancy to improve mothers and offspring mental health outcomes (grant number 101057390). The Drakenstein Child Health study is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation [grant number OPP 1017641], National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism [grant numbers R21AA023887, R01AA026834-01], US Brain and Behavior Research Foundation [grant number 24467], Collaborative Initiative on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (CIFASD) [grant number U24 AA014811], South African Medical Research Council, UK Government’s Newton Fund [grant number NAF002/1001], Wellcome Trust [grant number 203525/Z/16/Z], South Africa’s National Research Foundation [grant numbers 105865, 120432], ABMRF/The Foundation for Alcohol Research, and Harry Crossley Foundation. FFCW data collection is funded by National Institutes of Health (NIH) R01-HD-036916 and a consortium of other funders. Methylation analyses are funded by the NIH: R01 HD076592, R01 MH103761, R01HL149869, and R01 MD011716. Brain imaging (SAND) is funded by the NIH: R01 MH103761 and R01 MH121079. The Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) study is supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF) under the Open Fund-Large Collaborative Grant (OF-LCG; MOH-000504) administered by the Singapore Ministry of Health’s National Medical Research Council (NMRC) and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). In RIE2025, GUSTO is supported by funding from the NRF’s Human Health and Potential (HHP) Domain, under the Human Potential Programme. Kids2health is funded by BMBF 01GL1743A. MTwiNS was supported by funds from the National Institute of Mental Health of the National Institutes of Health (NIH): UH3MH114249 & R01 MD081813; the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development of the NIH: R01HD093334 & R01 HD104297 & R01 HD066040; the Brain and Behavior Foundation: NARSAD young Investigator Grant, The Avielle Foundation, and Institutional funds from the University of Michigan and Michigan State University. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NIH. The authors would like to thank the staff of the Twin Study of Behavioral and Emotional Development— Child (TBED-C) and Michigan Twins Neurogenetics Study (MTwiNS) studies for their hard work, and the authors thank the families who participated in TBED-C and MTwiNS for sharing their lives with us. The Oregon ADHD-1000 cohort is supported by grants from the National Institute of Mental Health of the National Institutes of Health under award numbers R37MH059105 (JTN), R01MH099064 (JTN), R01MH115357 (JTN), R01MH131685 (JTN, MAM). The CannTeen study was funded by the UK Medical Research Council (MR/P012728/1). The FinnBrain study was supported by the Academy of Finland, the Sigrid Juselius Foundation, the Signe and Ane Gyllenberg Foundation, the Jane and Aatos Erkko, and the Foundation and State Grants for Clinical Research (ERVA). The general design of the Generation R Study is made possible by financial support from the Erasmus MC, Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development and the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport. The EWAS data were funded by a grant from the Netherlands Genomics Initiative (NGI)/Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) Netherlands Consortium for Healthy Aging (NCHA; project nr. 050-060-810), by funds from the Genetic Laboratory of the Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, and by a grant from the National Institute of Child and Human Development (R01HD068437). We gratefully acknowledge the contribution of children and parents, general practitioners, hospitals, midwives and pharmacies in Rotterdam. The NICAP cohort is supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC #1065895 and #2029361) and a grant from the Waterloo Foundation. PETS was supported by grants from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (#437015, #607358, #114333), the Bonnie Babes Foundation (#BBF20704), the Financial Markets Foundation for Children (#032-2007), and the Victorian Government’s Operational Infrastructure Support Program. The UCIrvine Daily Experiences in Pregnancy Study was funded in part by a European Research Area Network (ERA Net) Neuron grant MecTranGen 01EW1407A to CB and National Institutes of Health grants R01 HD-060628 and R01 MD-017387.

Funding

The work of CAMC is supported by the European Union’s HorizonEurope Research and Innovation Programme (FAMILY, grant agreement No 101057529; HappyMums, grant agreement No 101057390) and the European Research Council (TEMPO; grant agreement No 101039672). This research was conducted while CAMC was a Hevolution/AFAR New Investigator Awardee in Aging Biology and Geroscience Research. CAMC is also supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme (EarlyCause, grant agreement No 848158); UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) under the UK government’s Horizon Europe / ERC Frontier Research Guarantee [BrainHealth, grant number EP/Y015037/1]; EW is supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme (EarlyCause, grant agreement No 848158), received funding from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) under the UK government’s Horizon Europe / ERC Frontier Research Guarantee [BrainHealth, grant number EP/Y015037/1] and from the National Institute of Mental Health of the National Institutes of Health (award number R01MH113930).

Funders	Funder number
UK Research & Innovation

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

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10.1038/s41380-025-03203-wLicence: CC BY

Cite this

Schuurmans, I. K., Mulder, R. H., Baltramonaityte, V., Lahtinen, A., Qiuyu, F., Rothmann, L., Staginnus, M., Tuulari, J. J., Burt, S. A., Buss, C., Craig, J. M., Donald, K. A., Eriksson, J. G., Felix, J. F., Freeman, T. P., Grassi-Oliveira, R., Huels, A., Hyde, L. W., jones, S. A., ... Cecil, C. A. M. (2025). Consortium profile: the methylation, imaging and NeuroDevelopment (MIND) consortium. Molecular Psychiatry. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-025-03203-w

Schuurmans, IK, Mulder, RH, Baltramonaityte, V, Lahtinen, A, Qiuyu, F, Rothmann, L, Staginnus, M, Tuulari, JJ, Burt, SA, Buss, C, Craig, JM, Donald, KA, Eriksson, JG, Felix, JF, Freeman, TP, Grassi-Oliveira, R, Huels, A, Hyde, LW, jones, SA, Karlsson, H, Karlsson, L, Koen, N, Lawn, W, Mitchell, C, Monk, CS, Mooney, MA, Muetzel, RL, Nigg, JT, Iole Nogueira Belangero, S, Notterman, DA, Ong, YY, O'Connor, T, O’Donnell, KJ, Pan, PM, Paunio, T, Ryabinin, P, Saffery, R, Salum, GA, Seal, M, Silk, TJ, Stein, DJ, Tan, AP, Wang, D, Zar, HJ, Walton, E & Cecil, CAM 2025, 'Consortium profile: the methylation, imaging and NeuroDevelopment (MIND) consortium', Molecular Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-025-03203-w

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title = "Consortium profile: the methylation, imaging and NeuroDevelopment (MIND) consortium",

abstract = "Epigenetic processes, such as DNA methylation, show potential as biological markers and mechanisms underlying gene-environment interplay in the prediction of mental health and other brain-based phenotypes. However, little is known about how peripheral epigenetic patterns relate to individual differences in the brain itself. An increasingly popular approach to address this is by combining epigenetic and neuroimaging data; yet, research in this area is almost entirely comprised of cross-sectional studies in adults. To bridge this gap, we established the Methylation, Imaging and NeuroDevelopment (MIND) Consortium, which aims to bring a developmental focus to the emerging field of Neuroimaging Epigenetics by (i) promoting collaborative, adequately powered developmental research via multi-cohort analyses; (ii) increasing scientific rigor through the establishment of shared pipelines and open science practices; and (iii) advancing our understanding of DNA methylation-brain dynamics at different developmental periods (from birth to emerging adulthood), by leveraging data from prospective, longitudinal pediatric studies. MIND currently integrates 16 cohorts worldwide, comprising (repeated) measures of DNA methylation in peripheral tissues (blood, buccal cells, and saliva) and neuroimaging by magnetic resonance imaging across up to five time points over a period of up to 21 years (Npooled DNAm = 12,877; Npooled neuroimaging = 10,899; Npooled combined = 6074). By triangulating associations across multiple developmental time points and study types, we hope to generate new insights into the dynamic relationships between peripheral DNA methylation and the brain, and how these ultimately relate to neurodevelopmental and psychiatric phenotypes.",

author = "Schuurmans, \{Isabel K.\} and Mulder, \{Rosa H.\} and Vilte Baltramonaityte and Alexandra Lahtinen and Fan Qiuyu and Leonardo Rothmann and Marlene Staginnus and Tuulari, \{Jetro J.\} and Burt, \{S. Alexandra\} and Claudia Buss and Craig, \{Jeffrey M\} and Donald, \{Kirsten A\} and Eriksson, \{Johan G\} and Felix, \{Janine F\} and Freeman, \{Tom P.\} and Rodrigo Grassi-Oliveira and Anke Huels and Hyde, \{Luke W.\} and jones, \{Scott A.\} and Hasse Karlsson and Linnea Karlsson and Nastassja Koen and William Lawn and Colter Mitchell and Monk, \{Christopher S.\} and Mooney, \{Michael A.\} and Muetzel, \{Ryan L\} and Nigg, \{Joel T.\} and \{Iole Nogueira Belangero\}, S{\'i}ntia and Notterman, \{Daniel A\} and Ong, \{Yi Ying\} and Tom O'Connor and O{\textquoteright}Donnell, \{Kieran J.\} and Pan, \{Pedro Mario\} and Tiina Paunio and Peter Ryabinin and Richard Saffery and Salum, \{Giovanni A.\} and Marc Seal and Silk, \{Tim J.\} and Stein, \{Dan J\} and Tan, \{Ai Peng\} and Dennis Wang and Zar, \{Heather J.\} and Esther Walton and Cecil, \{Charlotte A.M.\}",

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doi = "10.1038/s41380-025-03203-w",

language = "English",

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T2 - the methylation, imaging and NeuroDevelopment (MIND) consortium

AU - Schuurmans, Isabel K.

AU - Mulder, Rosa H.

AU - Baltramonaityte, Vilte

AU - Lahtinen, Alexandra

AU - Qiuyu, Fan

AU - Rothmann, Leonardo

AU - Staginnus, Marlene

AU - Tuulari, Jetro J.

AU - Burt, S. Alexandra

AU - Buss, Claudia

AU - Craig, Jeffrey M

AU - Donald, Kirsten A

AU - Eriksson, Johan G

AU - Felix, Janine F

AU - Freeman, Tom P.

AU - Grassi-Oliveira, Rodrigo

AU - Huels, Anke

AU - Hyde, Luke W.

AU - jones, Scott A.

AU - Karlsson, Hasse

AU - Karlsson, Linnea

AU - Koen, Nastassja

AU - Lawn, William

AU - Mitchell, Colter

AU - Monk, Christopher S.

AU - Mooney, Michael A.

AU - Muetzel, Ryan L

AU - Nigg, Joel T.

AU - Iole Nogueira Belangero, Síntia

AU - Notterman, Daniel A

AU - Ong, Yi Ying

AU - O'Connor, Tom

AU - O’Donnell, Kieran J.

AU - Pan, Pedro Mario

AU - Paunio, Tiina

AU - Ryabinin, Peter

AU - Saffery, Richard

AU - Salum, Giovanni A.

AU - Seal, Marc

AU - Silk, Tim J.

AU - Stein, Dan J

AU - Tan, Ai Peng

AU - Wang, Dennis

AU - Zar, Heather J.

AU - Walton, Esther

AU - Cecil, Charlotte A.M.

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N2 - Epigenetic processes, such as DNA methylation, show potential as biological markers and mechanisms underlying gene-environment interplay in the prediction of mental health and other brain-based phenotypes. However, little is known about how peripheral epigenetic patterns relate to individual differences in the brain itself. An increasingly popular approach to address this is by combining epigenetic and neuroimaging data; yet, research in this area is almost entirely comprised of cross-sectional studies in adults. To bridge this gap, we established the Methylation, Imaging and NeuroDevelopment (MIND) Consortium, which aims to bring a developmental focus to the emerging field of Neuroimaging Epigenetics by (i) promoting collaborative, adequately powered developmental research via multi-cohort analyses; (ii) increasing scientific rigor through the establishment of shared pipelines and open science practices; and (iii) advancing our understanding of DNA methylation-brain dynamics at different developmental periods (from birth to emerging adulthood), by leveraging data from prospective, longitudinal pediatric studies. MIND currently integrates 16 cohorts worldwide, comprising (repeated) measures of DNA methylation in peripheral tissues (blood, buccal cells, and saliva) and neuroimaging by magnetic resonance imaging across up to five time points over a period of up to 21 years (Npooled DNAm = 12,877; Npooled neuroimaging = 10,899; Npooled combined = 6074). By triangulating associations across multiple developmental time points and study types, we hope to generate new insights into the dynamic relationships between peripheral DNA methylation and the brain, and how these ultimately relate to neurodevelopmental and psychiatric phenotypes.

AB - Epigenetic processes, such as DNA methylation, show potential as biological markers and mechanisms underlying gene-environment interplay in the prediction of mental health and other brain-based phenotypes. However, little is known about how peripheral epigenetic patterns relate to individual differences in the brain itself. An increasingly popular approach to address this is by combining epigenetic and neuroimaging data; yet, research in this area is almost entirely comprised of cross-sectional studies in adults. To bridge this gap, we established the Methylation, Imaging and NeuroDevelopment (MIND) Consortium, which aims to bring a developmental focus to the emerging field of Neuroimaging Epigenetics by (i) promoting collaborative, adequately powered developmental research via multi-cohort analyses; (ii) increasing scientific rigor through the establishment of shared pipelines and open science practices; and (iii) advancing our understanding of DNA methylation-brain dynamics at different developmental periods (from birth to emerging adulthood), by leveraging data from prospective, longitudinal pediatric studies. MIND currently integrates 16 cohorts worldwide, comprising (repeated) measures of DNA methylation in peripheral tissues (blood, buccal cells, and saliva) and neuroimaging by magnetic resonance imaging across up to five time points over a period of up to 21 years (Npooled DNAm = 12,877; Npooled neuroimaging = 10,899; Npooled combined = 6074). By triangulating associations across multiple developmental time points and study types, we hope to generate new insights into the dynamic relationships between peripheral DNA methylation and the brain, and how these ultimately relate to neurodevelopmental and psychiatric phenotypes.

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DO - 10.1038/s41380-025-03203-w

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SN - 1359-4184

JO - Molecular Psychiatry

JF - Molecular Psychiatry

ER -

Consortium profile: the methylation, imaging and NeuroDevelopment (MIND) consortium

Abstract

Acknowledgements

Funding

UN SDGs

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Other files and links

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BrainHealth - Decoding life course pathways of mental ageing - Frontier Research Guarantee

Cite this

Consortium profile: the methylation, imaging and NeuroDevelopment (MIND) consortium

Abstract

Acknowledgements

Funding

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Projects

BrainHealth - Decoding life course pathways of mental ageing - Frontier Research Guarantee

Cite this